Nanoparticles of 2-deoxy-d-glucose functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(trimethylene carbonate) for dual-targeted drug delivery in glioma treatment

Based on the facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) over-expression on both blood–brain barrier (BBB) and glioma cells, 2-deoxy-d-glucose modified poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(trimethylene carbonate) nanoparticles (dGlu–NP) were developed as a potential dual-targeted drug delivery system for enhancing the BBB penetration via GLUT-mediated transcytosis and improving the drug accumulation in the glioma via GLUT-mediated endocytosis. In vitro physicochemical characterization of the dual-targeted nanoparticulate system presented satisfactory size of 71 nm with uniform distribution, high encapsulation efficiency and adequate loading capacity of paclitaxel (PTX). Compared with non-glucosylated nanoparticles (NP), a significantly higher amount of dGlu–NP was internalized by RG-2 glioma cells through caveolae-mediated and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Both of the transport ratios across the in vitro BBB model and the cytotoxicity of RG-2 cells after crossing the BBB were significantly greater of dGlu–NP/PTX than that of NP/PTX. In vivo fluorescent image indicated that dGlu–NP had high specificity and efficiency in intracranial tumor accumulation. The anti-glioblastoma efficacy of dGlu–NP/PTX was significantly enhanced in comparison with that of Taxol and NP/PTX. Preliminary safety tests showed no acute toxicity to hematological system, liver, kidney, heart, lung and spleen in mice after intravenous administration at a dose of 100 mg/kg blank dGlu–NP per day for a week. Therefore, these results indicated that dGlu–NP developed in this study could be a potential dual-targeted vehicle for brain glioma therapy.